English has two present tenses. The present simple talks about habits and facts. The present continuous talks about what is happening now, or for a limited time.
1. Present simple → habits and facts
- I work in Paris.
- She goes to the gym every Monday.
- Water boils at 100 degrees.
Typical words: always, usually, often, every day, never.
2. Present continuous → now, or for a limited time
- Look! It is raining.
- I am working from home this week.
- She is learning Spanish at the moment.
Typical words: now, right now, at the moment, today, this week, Look!, Listen!
3. Same verb, different meaning
- I live in Lyon. (my home)
- I am living with friends until I find a flat. (for a limited time)
4. State verbs: no -ing
Some verbs describe a state, not an action. They normally stay in the present simple, even when you mean "now".
- know, understand, believe, mean, remember
- want, need, prefer, like, love, hate
- own, belong, seem
- ❌ I am knowing the answer.
- ✔️ I know the answer.
5. Verbs with two meanings
A few verbs are state verbs in one meaning and action verbs in another.
- I think it's a good idea. (opinion) / I am thinking about it. (the process)
- He has two cars. (he owns them) / He is having lunch. (an action)
- This soup tastes great. (a state) / She is tasting the soup. (an action)
6. Common mistakes
- ❌ Look! It rains.
- ✔️ Look! It is raining.
- ❌ She is wanting a coffee.
- ✔️ She wants a coffee.
- ❌ Every morning I am drinking a coffee.
- ✔️ Every morning I drink a coffee.
